Small Stores

[theGOOCH]

I hear a lot of bad things about the "big" stores like GC and Sam Ash and praise for mom and pop places. My experience has been opposite.

 

If I go to GC or Sam Ash I see good prices (decent on guitars and really good on strings and accessories) I assume you can haggle on the guitars. I also like the atmosphere-I never get hassled there and I don't feel like I'm being watched like an inmate if I pick up a Taylor, Martin or Gibson and start playing it.

 

Most of the small places I've been to have inflated prices and they hound you and or you have to ask to play the nicer guitars and have the guy stand over you like his next meal depends on your sale. Today I stopped by a local shop to get some strings because I didn't feel like driving all the way to Sam Ash. They wanted just under $10 for Martin SP's. I buy them at Sam Ash for $4.99 ...I looked at Elixirs for laughs: $23.90. MF has them on sale for $9.99 right now.

 

I've found that both types of stores are often staffed by either dumbass kids or know-it-all older guys, so no difference there.

 

Maybe I'm just going to the wrong places or I just live in a bad area for guitar stores, but I'll stick with the big guys.

[Rada]

haha....I find my experience is the exact opposite of yours

 

Every time I go to a big guitar store, I get hit on by salesmen who have little or no REAL knowledge of the products they are selling...I ask about a guitar, and they ask what I'm doing that weekend....

 

when it comes to the instruments you can tell they simply read the brochures and websites and that's pretty much it

 

I find that in big stores I get hassled more than in small stores

 

I think the reason why a lot of the smaller stores have higher prices is because they set up the guitars before they put them out on the floor...also, I find when it comes to acoustic guitars when you go to a smaller store the guitars are in MUCH better shape than the ones at the bigger stores....

 

I find the guys at smaller stores to be much more knowledable and have a lot of really great stories.... They ask your name and they talk to you about music...I can spend 10 minutes in GC, but I can spend several hours in a smaller store because it's just much more inviting and much more laid back environment

[knockwood]

Guess it depends on the store. For acoustics I generally prefer the small guys. Salesguys I've come across at the larger stores have been more detached from, and less interested in, the instruments themselves. And they certainly seem to invest less in the care of them. The maintenance and general handling of gits I've seen at Sam Ash, Manny's, GC in NYC is just plain hideous. I also don't find their prices at all attractive, but I think this has more to do with location than large vs. small. Then again, I find the marking of gits in GC's stores with the MAP, and their willingness to allow uninformed dupes to walk out having paid that price, pretty obnoxious. I agree the string prices with the big guys seems usually better, though.

 

Mandolin Brothers is probably the best example of a thriving "small" shop I've ever visited. They have an unbelievable selection, awesome prices, cash discounts, a try out whatever the heck you want policy and a staff that will ask if they can help but will not hound you if you're just plucking around. They also maintain their instruments meticulously and can recite the specs in their sleep. The only drawback is they're in the middle of frickin' nowhere - unless you live on Staten Island - and you need to take two trains, a ferry, a bus, a catapult, a submarine and a helicopter to get there. But the ferry is free...

[bigby]

Best music store on earth, Ray Hennings Heart of Texas Music in Austin, Texas...no need for me to go anywhere else.

 

Besides, when I walk into any type of store, small or large, just let me be and I'll meet ya at the counter.

[Hudman]

Rada,

Sometimes it sucks to be a beautiful woman. My wife has similiar problems with idiots hitting on her or not taking her seriously. Hell, she's 34 and she still gets carded.

 

I agree. I prefer the smaller stores.

 

Here's my theory: Big stores (GC, Sam Ash, etc.) are great stores to "window shop" or kill time. You can play anything you want, for as long as you want (if you're a 37 year old man with a shaved head - LOL). Sometimes you can get lucky and find something you like and get a great deal in the process. Big stores usually have better prices on strings and other accessories.

 

Small stores are for serious shopping. I would never waste a small store owners time "window shopping".

[kwakatak]

Neither for me: I order my strings and miscellaneous stuff online from either juststrings.com, Maury's music or Elderly.

 

I've tried to support my local shops, but for the most part they just don't have the selection. I've also found that the prices are a little higher too.

[Sweb]

I can't say I've ever been hounded by anyone. But, then again, I usually let any sales staff know up front that I will ask for help if I need it. Not shy about that.

 

I buy strings and stuff on-line, like Kwak, but any guitar is subject to my own personal scrutiny.

 

I recently went to Sam Ash and banged around their acoustic room for a couple hours. The sales staff knew zip about acoustic guitars. That's pretty much why, I think, a high end Martin or beginner Johnson hanging side-by-side are just 3-D wallpaper to an hourly store employee in a large chain store. The Mom and Pop stores have a bit more to lose to a ham-fisted power-chording newbie window shopper so they act more like sentries than sales people.

[Sweb]

 

Originally posted by knockwood The only drawback is they're in the middle of frickin' nowhere - unless you live on Staten Island - and you need to take two trains, a ferry, a bus, a catapult, a submarine and a helicopter to get there. But the ferry is free...

 

 

The catapult is a great visual. Got to remember not to flail your limbs lest the added coefficient of drag leave you short of the mark. Italians would get wet every time.

 

I have a similar problem with the distance thing. So, I think I'm going to canvass my area coast-to-coast via a couple days off to search for the ellusive OM-21. Might even cross the State line if need be prior to my Chicago trip.

[knockwood]

 

Originally posted by Sweb I have a similar problem with the distance thing. So, I think I'm going to canvass my area coast-to-coast via a couple days off to search for the ellusive OM-21. Might even cross the State line if need be prior to my Chicago trip.

 

 

I envy you. Some day, I would love to do a guitar-hunting road trip.

[babablowfish]

I have to agree with everyone. I have had only good experiences in both the big chains and in the small mom & pop stores. I have made purchases from mom & pop and from Gutiar Center and Daddy's Junky Music and have been happy every time. I have heard the complaints about GC on this forum, but my own experience has not been negative at all.

[theGOOCH]

I guess it has a lot to do with our individual filters we see the world through. I'm not a very social person. What some may see as great customer service, I see as an annoyance. When I go into a store I want them to leave me the hell alone unless I ask a question. I prefer to do my own research on a guitar rather than ask some guy at a guitar store.

[chiro972]

I agree with you gooch. I have had generally good experience at GC. I do kinda hate the Sam Ash here though. I would love to give my business to my local store, and I did buy a set of strings there today, but their selection of guitars is laughable and their prices are rediculous.

[MyM.O.]

I also agree with you, Gooch. I enjoy the Guitar Centers because they leave you alone and have a fairly big selection. If I need help I'll ask for it. I also don't like paying mom-and-pop stores' prices. But I also like Daddy's Junky Music (they have those hard to find Canadians ) and Mandolin Bros, and a couple other "non-chains".